Device for steering vehicles.



w. H. APPLEMAN.

DEVICE FOR STEERING VEHICLES.

APPHCA'TWN FILED AUG- m l9l2. hmfifimm Patented M11213, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES W M I I INVENTOR W. H. APPLEIVIAN.

DEVICE FOR STEERING VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJO. 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

,muma' WITNESSES M W nn 4 lNVENTOR THE NORRIS PE" '20.. PHOTD-LITHO..WASQINGTON, D, C.

W. H. APPLEMAN. DEVICE FOR STEERING VEHICLES. I APPLICATION FILEDAUG-l0. 1912.

Patented Apr.13, 1915,

3 SHEETS-SHEIET 8.

WITNESSES/ 14 CZ INVENTOR THE NORRIS PETERS CO4. PHOID-LITHQ.WASHINGTON, D. C.

ift

WILLIAM H. APPLEMAN, OF BELMONT, NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR STEERING VEHICLES.

Application filed August 10, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. APPLE- mm, acitizen of the United States, residing at Belmont, in the county ofAllegany, in the State of New York, have invented a new and usefulDevice for Steering Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improved methods for imparting motion to what isknown as the steering arm of steering devices.

he object of my invention is to provide means for eliminating lostmotion in case of wear, reduce the cost of construction, and render theinternal parts of the device far more accessible than those in devicesnow in use for a similar purpose. a

1 attain the objects of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation view partlyin section with portions removed. Fig. 2 is an elevation fairlyrepresenting either a front or rear view of my device assembled less thesteering arm. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal elevation of the rocking memberindicated in Figs. 1 and 2. 1 is a side elevational view of thelongitudinally moving members of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a front elevationalview of same. Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a modification of thelongitudinally moving members of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 a top and also asideview of the supplemental member shown in connection with the uppermemberof Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of a further modifloationof the longitudinally moving members of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a frontelevational view of same. Fig. 10 presents longitudinal and end views ofa thimble member used in connection with Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. 11 is aplan view of the rocker indicated in Fig. 1 taken in sectionhorizontally through the center at right angles to the operating post.Fig. 12 is an end and also a horizontal view of a tubular thimble usedwith the rocker of Fig. 1.. Fig. 13 is an end and also a longitudinalview of a supplemental spacer shown between the sliding spacing membersof Fig. 1. Figs. 14 and 15 present top and bottom plan views of thesliding spacers shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 16 is a top plan view of the upperlongitudinal moving member shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9. Fig. 17is a longitudinal side view of the adjustable sleeve type member shownnear Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

Serial No. 714,484.

the rocker of Figs. 1, 3 and 11. Fig. 20 is similar views of a similarbinding bolt used with said figures. Fig. 21 is a rear elevation viewpartly in section with portions removed, of my device assembledcomplete. Fig. 22 is an internal plan view of the major member of therocker indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 11 and 21. Fig. 23 is an externalplan view of the same.

Like symbols indicate like parts throughout the various figures.

A suitable housing A for supporting and protecting the internalmechanism is provided having a longitudinal chamber separated by anenlarged transverse chamber, the walls of the latter being machined bothinternally and laterally. Into said housing, a steering post B isinserted which carries a single hand thread. This thread may extend overthe entire inserted portion, or a short blank space the same or of areduced diameter may be left at its center. On said thread is mounted anon-rotatable nut C and an adjustably rotatable nut D, both of which areprovided with abutments extending outward at right angles from steeringpost B. The abutment of C being rectangular while that of D is circular.Nuts C and D are spaced apart and nut D is provided with one or morechannels or featherways cut longitudinally in the peripheral surface ofthe body of the nut. Into the upper end of housing A. is inserted asleeve E which encircles steering post B and also carries one or moresplines which enter longitudinally into the aforesaid feath- 61WEt innut D, thus guiding the latter in its longitudinal movements. Sleeve Eis provided with a hexagon external exposure, and also with a circulargroove or channel extending around its body portion near its upper endfor purposes hereinafter mentioned.

A rocker comprising circular plates G and H is inserted into thetransverse chamber of housing A. Said plates are machined flat on theirinner faces, their peripheral surface being machined to fit journalfashion against the inner walls of said transverse chamber. Said plateseach carry a flange extension which rests journal fashion'against thelateral extensions of the walls of said transverse chamber. Plates G andH aredefinitely fixed apart by peripheral spacers, which may be madeintegral with either of them, and which are also machined to a journaledfit against the -inner walls of the aforesaid transverse chamber. PlatesG and H each carry an extending boss I near their periphery, havingholes bored therein which are counterbored fromtheir inner sides. Theyare firmly bound together upon said spacers by bolts J and K; The formerpasses directly 1 between the abutments of nuts C and D them all againstrotation.

. A steering arm S is attachable to either plate G or H and may beintegral with either of them, as indicated by the stub dotted lines 7leading from plate G, or. may be attached left causes nuts C and D,along with spacers adjacently as shown by. a shaft-like extension of oneof said plates. Said extension also serving as a suitable means for usein attaching the device to the vehicle. A circular .pin or roller typespacer 0 (see also Fig. '13) is also inserted between the sliding spaceblocks M and N, but on the opposite side of steering post Bfrom thepivotal binding bolt J and by lying parallel with said bolt counteractsthe longitudinal rocking tendency .of nuts C and D thus preserving theiralinement, notwithstanding that the force of nuts 0 and D is deliveredupon bolt J entirely at one side of steering post B.

The outer ends of housing A are provided with bossesslottedlongitudinally to permit of'com-pressing the housing at saidpoints,

said bosses beingdrilled and providedwith compression bOlts P and Q, theformer being let into housing A deep enough to intrude withinthecircular groove in sleeve E, by which means said sleeve is lockedagainst rotation, except during periods of adjustment; the latter beingeffected by slacking bolt P, and turning sleeve E along with nut D in.the desired direction.

Turning steering post B to the right or M, N and 0, all to travellongitudinally with-in housing A, and as said members piv- Votally'engage with thimble L and bolt J and the latter with plates G andH, said plates along with steering arm is is caused to rock inacorrespondingdirection.

1n themodification presented in Figs. 6 and 7., the abutment of nut Ddesignated by .F ,;is detached from said .nut. said members againstlongitudinal movement, as well as being fitted together with male andfemale faces. This construction permits of using a rectangular abutmentin connection with the rotatably adjustable nut D, thereby permitting ofnarrowing said abutments, and correspondingly shortening the spacers ofthe rocking member G and H, as well as spacers M, N and 0. Otherwise theconstruction conforms to that of corresponding parts of Fig. 1.

In the modification presented in Figs. 8 and 9 the abutments areconfined entirely to nut C, it. and nut D being joined by male andfemale faces (presumably conical). The abutments then of nut C beingfixed or nonadjustable, lend themselves naturally to the use of a squarethimble, spacer L for encircling bolt J, spacers M, N and 0 beingomitted, and the outer ends only of said spacing thimble L being roundedin order to enter the counterbore in rocker plates G and H. Barringadjustment between the two fixed abutments of nut D the remainingadjustments and functions of nuts C and D are the same as incorresponding parts of Fig. 1.

"Special n0tatz'0ns.By providing a circulartransverse chamber in housingA which freely encircles the abutments of nuts C and D it becomespractical to locate the spacers separatingrocker plates G and H entirelyoutside of binding bolts J and K, and consequently outside of thepivotal connection between nuts C and D and said rocker plates.Furthermore, by thus enlarging said transverse chamber, and by providingit with external openings, a separable rocker can be externally appliedor removed without dismantling my device, and at the same time, by theexternal removal of rocker plate H, nuts C and D, .as well as spacers M,N and O can also be either inserted or removed through the opening thuscreated, without otherwise dismantling my device or removing it from thevehicle, or without even disengaging Steering arm S. The construction ofthe rocker shown comprising plates G and H with their spacers andbinding bolts J and K, not only renders it most durable and powerful,but presents manufacturing advantages and convenience of applicationunknown in devices heretofore offered for a like purpose.

Pivotal sleeve L not only contacts internally upon bolt J throughout itsentire length, but also contacts externally in the .counterbores .ofrocker plates G and H, thus greatly increasing its wearing area.

By the adoption of a divided nut, or separate nuts as presented by nutsC and D, and of then locating the crank arm entirely to one side of thesteering post 13,1 am .enabled by the use of long spacers M, N whichhave no contact near their centers, to so concentrate the force .of nuts0 and .1) upon said spacers as to preserve the formers alinement, andthus practically eliminate their rocking tendency.

I claim 1. The combination of a housing having a longitudinal and atransverse chamber therein, a rotatable steering post entering saidlongitudinal chamber, a rocker journaled in said transverse chambercomprising two external circular plates having extension thereon whichextend within and are journaled upon the walls 0]": said transversechamber, and means for imparting motion from said steering post to saidrocker.

2. The combination of a housing having a longitudinal and a transversechamber therein, a rotatable steering post entering said longitudinalchamber, a rocker journaled in said transverse chamber comprising twocircular flanged plates, having both an internal and also an externalbearing against the walls of said transverse chainher, and means forimparting motion from said steering post to said rocker.

3. The combination of a housing, a rotatable steering post enteringtherein, a rocker journaled in said housing comprising two circularplates, spacers located between said plates for spacing them definitelyapart, bolts binding said plates against said spacers, each oi whichpass between one of said spacers and said steering post, and a means fortransmitting motion from said steering post to said rocker.

4. The combination of a housing, a rotatable steering post enteringtherein, a rocker journaled in said housing comprising two circularplates, spacers located between said plates for spacing them definitelyapart, bolts binding said plates against said spacers which areapplicable and removable externally from said rocker and means fortransmitting motion from said steering post to said rocker.

5. The combination of a housing, a rotatable steering post enteringtherein, a rocker journaled in said housing comprising two circularplates, spacers located between said plates which fix said platesdefinitely apart, said spacers having a journaled bearing against theinner walls of said housing, and means for transmitting motion from saidsteering post to said rocker.

6. The combination of a housing having a longitudinal chamber therein, arotatable steering post entering said longitudinal chamber, a threadedmember having abutments thereon and moving longitudinally upon saidsteering post, a circular transverse chamber in said housing thecircular walls of which encircle the abutments of said threaded member,a rocker extending to and peripherally journaled against the circularwalls of said transverse chamber which encircles the abutments of saidthreaded members, and means for imparting motion from the abutments ofsaid threaded member to said rocker.

7 The combination of a housing having a longitudinal chamber therein, arotatable steering post entering said longitudinal chamber, a threadedmember having abutments thereon and moving longitudinally upon saidsteering post, a transverse chamher in said housing having circularWalls which encircle the abutments of said threaded members, a rockerjournaled against the circular portion of the walls of said transversechamber that encircle the abutments of said threaded member, and meansfor imparting motion from the abutments of said threaded member to saidrocker.

8. The combination of a housing, a rotatable steering post enteringtherein, a rockerjournaled in said housing comprising two circularplates, spacers located between said plates for fixing them definitelyapart, a crank arm engaging with both of said circular plates, saidcrank arm being located between said steering post and one of saidspacers, and a means for transmitting motion from said steering post tosaid rocker.

9. The combination of a housing, a rotatable threaded steering postentering there in, a rock r ournaled in said housing comprising twocircular plates, spacers located between said plates for fixing themdefinitely apart, a crank arm engaging with both of said circularplates, said crank arm being located between said steering post and oneof said spacers, and a longitudinally moving member engaging with saidcrank arm and also with the threads of said steering post.

10. The combination of a housing, a rotatable steering post enteringtherein, a threaded member moving longitudinally on said steering post,an abutment on said threaded member, a transverse chamber in saidhousing encircling said abutment, a rocker comprising two circularplates extending to and peripherally journaled by the circular walls ofsaid transverse chamber which encircle said abutment, said rocker havingmeans for engaging with said longitudinally moving threaded member.

71.1. The combination of a housing, a rota table steering post enteringtherein having a continuously related thread thereon, a nut engagingwith; and moving longitudinally on said threads, said nut being alsorotatably adjustable on said thread, means for rotatably adjusting saidnut on said thread, and also for guiding said nut against rotationduring its longitudinal movements.

12. The combination of a housing, a rotatable steering post enteringtherein and having a thread thereon, a nut engaging with and movinglongitudinally on said thread,

. in the body of said nut, a rotatably adjustable sleeve encircling saidsteering post and carrying an extension or guide which enters the guideWay in said nut, and upon Which said nut moves longitudinally, means forreleasing said sleeve in order to rotatably adjust it and said nut, andmeans for securing said sleeve to said housing.

13. The combination of a housing, a rotatable steering post enteringtherein, having a thread thereon, a non rotatable nutmoving'longitudinally on said thread, a second nut also movinglongitudinally on said thread in unison With said first nut, said secondnut being adjustable toward or from said first nut; by being rotated onsaid thread, means for rotating said second nut in order to adjust it onsaid thread, and means for holding itagainst rotation during itslongitudinal movements.

' 14. The combination of a housing, a rotatable. steering post enteringtherein and having a thread thereon, a non rotatable nut, and arotatably adjustable nut spaced apart and both moving in unisonlongitudinally on said thread, a rocker journaled in said housing havingan arm extending between said nuts, means for turning said rota-tablyadjustable nut upon said thread in order to adjust it, and means forguiding it against rotation durin its lon itudinal movements.

15. The combination of a housing, a rotatable steering post enteringtherein having a thread thereon, two nuts moving long1tudinally inunison upon said thread, a rocker journaled transversely in said housingand having an operating crank arm inserted between said nuts;transversely across the steering post at one side thereof, and a spacing member inserted between said nuts on the opposite side thereof fromsaid crank arm. 7

16. The combination of a housing, a'rotatable steering post enteringtherein, a nut moving longitudinally thereon, a rocker transverselyjournaled in said housing having a member lying on each side of saidnut, a counter bored chamber 011 the inner side of each of said members,a tubular crank arm entering pivotally Within each of said counter boredchambers, a non rotatable bolt passing through both of said rockermembers, and also through said tubular crank arm, and means ofengagement between said nut and said tubular crank arm.

17. The combination of a housing having a longitudinahand a transversechamber therein, a rotatable steering post entering said longitudinalchamber, a rocker journaled in said housing comprising an external.circular plate having an extension thereon which extends Within and isjournaled upon the Walls of said transverse chamber and means forimparting motion from said steering post to said rocker.

18. The combination of a housing having a longitudinal and a transversechamber therein, a circular external opening in said transverse chamber,a rotatable steering post entering said longitudinal chamber, a rockerjournalcd in said housing comprising an external circular plate havingan extension thereon which extends Within and closes the circularexternal opening in said transverse chamber, and means for impartingmotion from said steering post to said rocker.

19. The combination of a. housing having a longitudinal and a transversechamber therein, an external opening in said transverse chamber, arotatable steering post entering said longitudinal chamber, a rocker journaled in said housing comprising an external circular plate having anextension thereon which extends Within, is journaled upon the Wall of,and closes the external opening in said transverse chamber, and meansfor imparting motion from said steering post to said rocker.

lV. H. APPLEMAN. Witnesses G. \V. SMALLEY, PAUL M. DAVIS.

I Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O.

